Editor’s note: The following was written by Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois ag economist, for the university’s Farmdoc Daily website. It is a presentation summary from the 2017 Illinois Farm Economics Summit.

EL PASO, Ill. — Tree Lane Farms catches the eye of anyone driving by on U.S. Highway 24 near El Paso in central Illinois. Cattle are on pasture. The distinctive signage celebrates the farm’s history of breeding Angus since 1943,…

Given the persistent and ongoing economic challenges in farming and rural economies, the National Farmers Union is calling on Congress to increase funding for farm programs in the farm bill and pass the legislation as soon as possible. The National…

At a time when the U.S. agricultural sector is hoping to find the bottom of the economic downturn it is in, it is searching for growth in traditional markets and opening new markets to bring about a financial resurgence. With…

Commodities would be particularly exposed if U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on foreign solar panels and washing machines sparks a tit-for-tat trade war with nations around the world.

Ever since Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad was named as the Trump administration’s ambassador to China last year, farm organizations have talked about how useful it could be to have a Midwesterner and a person knowledgeable about agriculture as the U.S.…

The Wiles Brothers of Plattsmouth, Neb., are veterans of the National Corn Yield Contest. Marvin and Glen Wiles took second place in the 2017 contest with a yield of 351.2 bushels/acre in the No Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated Category.

The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee said every GOP senator is concerned about the direction President Donald Trump is taking on trade, from slapping tariffs on solar panels to his threats to withdraw from the North American Free…